COLLEGE STATION — The Southeastern Conference scheduled Florida at Texas A&M early in the season as a marquee matchup and a way to welcome the Aggies to their new family.

A&M suddenly has its hands full on that front and would happily take a league bottom-feeder over a marquee one after the postponement of its scheduled opener against Louisiana Tech, which would've served as a primer for the Gators.

Louisiana Tech on Tuesday, citing Hurricane Isaac, postponed Thursday night's game slated for Shreveport's Independence Stadium until Oct. 13. Both teams were off that Saturday in the middle of the season, and Louisiana Tech made the call as the host team.

“Our primary concern was for the health and safety of the general public, students and fans of both institutions,” Bulldogs athletic director Bruce Van De Velde said. “It's impossible to predict exactly what is going to happen throughout the state, so we also wanted to be conscientious of the possible effects of this storm on residents throughout Louisiana.”

Isaac made landfall Tuesday in southeastern Louisiana.

“As much as both teams wanted to play, the safety of everyone took precedent over a football game, even one of this magnitude,” Van De Velde said.

He didn't divulge why Friday or early Saturday weren't considered for the rescheduling (the stadium is scheduled to host a Saturday night game). The Aggies, with a new coaching staff led by Kevin Sumlin and a new starting quarterback in freshman Johnny Manziel of Kerrville Tivy High, are now scheduled to open their season against Florida on Sept. 8 at Kyle Field.

“I know Coach Sumlin and our Aggie football team were ready to play, but the safety and well-being of our Aggie fans, our student-athletes as well as the residents of Louisiana is paramount,” new A&M athletic director Eric Hyman said.

Based on the revamped schedule, the Aggies will now play a stretch of five of six games on the road, starting Oct. 6 at Ole Miss. A&M will then face Louisiana Tech in Shreveport, return to Kyle for LSU, then head east for contests at Auburn, Mississippi State and Alabama.

Sumlin, headed for practice Tuesday evening, declined comment through a spokesman. Starting linebacker Steven Jenkins and backup safety Howard Matthews also were scheduled to be suspended for the opener for violations of team rules, but the spokesman wasn't certain what the duo's status would be for Florida.

The Aggies were supposed to fly to Shreveport this afternoon but now will begin preparations for the Gators, who host Bowling Green on Saturday.

“Regardless of what people say, we're going to be ready next week,” Manziel posted on his Twitter account. “First game of the year (at) home against Florida, what more could you ask for?”

Added senior linebacker Sean Porter of Clemens High via Twitter: “First game in the SEC at home vs. Florida. Couldn't have scripted it better in a movie.”